Star Wars’ Doctor Aphra Gets a Big Introduction

A well-known character that was first seen in Darth Vader has gotten her own series. This particular character, known to all as Doctor Aphra, has recently enjoyed the first two runs of her series from writer and artist duo Kieron Gillen and Kev Walker.

In an interview with CBR, Gillen talks a little about what makes the archaeologist with the black humor and heart so damn funny, while set in the backdrop of the Star Wars universe in Doctor Aphra.

"The cast of the book are really bad people, but they are fun people to be around. We know Aphra is awful, but the question is how awful? That's one of the things we'll look at in the book. We'll examine what she'll do and what she won't do."

Gillen hints that we get to see where Aphra draws the line as far as badness is concerned. What's more, since we are looking at a character who is pretty much in the worst part of the galaxy, one awesome take is that we'll even get to see what good things she's ready to do.

What's also exciting about the character is that she's not the half-hearted mean girl, but a downright ethically-twisted individual. And somehow, Gillen is able to make nice sense of it all. It helps that Aphra is semi-paired with a Wookie bounty hunter Black Krrsantan.

While allusions to the Han and Chewie combo seem apparent, theirs is a relationship that doesn't really scratch the surface of the bond. If anything, Gillen suggests that it's an inversion of the life debt that Han and Chewie share.

"He's just here because he wants to be paid. He wants the money Doctror Aphra owes him and he considers Aphra an investment. So that's why she has a relationship with him, but he's not exactly helpful... A guy who she owes a lot to in both money and personal favors is keeping her alive. She's like a bank and Aphra is almost too big to fail now for him."

In essence, this is Gillen's way of being able to bring in much more in the Star Wars universe, while also having the free hand to make use of existing themes in the established galaxy.

Check out more of the twisted relationship and the black comedy that prevail in Doctor Aphra, when its third issue is released on Jan. 18.

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